DYNAMIC DUOS DEMME AND KEITA

In the course of history there have been legendary onfield partnerships formed at every club, whose combined efforts have gone on to leave a lasting impact and cultural legacy. With the visit of RB Leipzig, Liam Carson takes a look at how the midfield link-up of Diego Demme and Naby Keita pressed forward the evolution of the German outfit.

When RB Leipzig finished as the runner-up in the 2016/17 edition of the Bundesliga, it was an achievement that shocked German football since such a meteoric rise of one team in such a short space of time had never been seen in the nation before.

Leipzig had risen from the fifth tier of the German football pyramid to Bundesliga title contenders and qualifiers for the Champions League group stages in as little as eight years.

But, while their rapid growth since 2009 is an ascent which stands out, their accomplishment of transitioning between a 2. Bundesliga side to one preparing to take on the might of the European elite in just 12 months is a statement of an entirely different magnitude.

Despite securing a second-place finish in 2. Bundesliga to earn promotion for Leipzig in 2016, manager Ralf Rangnick vacated his post in the close season to take up the role of Sporting Director, with current Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl replacing him as the team’s new Head Coach.

Hasenhuttl was a man who knew what it took to make the step up to Germany’s top division. Having previously taken FC Ingolstadt 04 to the Bundesliga and secured their place at the high table, upon assessment of his new side, he decided tactical tweaks were needed if the Saxony outfit were to kick on in the top flight.

In the second tier under Rangnick, Leipzig had opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation. Deployed were two well-organised banks of four which were protected at the heart by midfield duo Diego Demme and Rani Khedira while, in front, the pace of Emil Forsberg and Marcel Sabitzer supported frontman Yussuf Poulsen.